Slicing mechanism



Dec. 22, 1936. J. FOLK 2,065,129

SLICING MECHANISM.

Filed Sept. 17, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec; 22, 1936. J. FOLK 2,065,129

SLICING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 17, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLICING IWECHANISM Application September 17, 1932, Serial No. 633,595

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to slicing machines and particularly to slicing machines in which the carriage is manually moved past the slicing knife and is provided with a substance clamp having a detachable pusher plate associated therewith. Preferably'the clamp is fed toward the cutting plane of the knife by spring pressure, but may be manually controlled if desired.

One object of this invention is to provide a novel form of substance clamp which is movable toward and from the substance support to engage the upper side of the substance and hold it'firmly against the support.

Another object of this invention is to provide a releasable pusher plate for said clamp which may be quickly attached thereto if and when desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means whereby a pusher-plate may be quickly positioned in operative relation to the substance support and quickly removed from such operative position if and when desired, to enable the operator to use the substance clamp which has a portion which engages the upper side of the substance to be sliced.

Other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter as the description thereof proceeds, the novel features, arrangements and combinations being clearly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a slicing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a planview of the substance supporting carriage and clamp;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;. and

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

The reference numeral It! indicates the base of a slicing machine provided with guide rods H and I2 which slidably support the carriage I 3, the latter being moved along the guides I l and I2 by manual pressure applied to the handle l4.

The guide I2 has a cover l5 which extends over the entire operative surface of the guide to protect it from foreign material which may fall thereon. This cover extends downwardly between. the guide I2 and the knife I6, which is rotatably mounted in the usual manner on the slicing machine frame. A guard l'l protects the upper and rear portions of the knife edge and a guard plate I8 is arranged within the recessed portion l9 in the face or the kn fe j en th carriage I 3. The face of the guard plate is substantially in the cutting plane of the knife and prevents rubbing of the substance against the knife after the substance has passed the cutting edge of the knife. The guard plate I8 is provided with grooves 20 to reduce the resistance which the guard plate offers to the movement of the substance thereover and thus reducing larding of the guard plate.

The slicing machine is also provided with a gauge plate 2| which is movably mounted on the base 10 for movement to various positions of adjustment, each of which is parallel to the other and substantially parallel to the cutting plane of the knife, and this gauge plate is adjusted by means of a nut 22 threaded on the end of a rod which supports the gauge plate 2|. The adjustment of this gauge plate is fully described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 637,246

filed October 11, 1932 which became Patent 2,004,603 on June 11, 1935. The gauge plate is also provided with grooves 23 for the same purpose as the grooves 20 in the guard plate l8. No claim is made broadly herein to the provision of spaced ribs or grooves on the guard plate and gauge plate, as such construction is shown and claimed broadly in my co-pending application, serial No. 464,823, filed June 30, 1930 which became Patent 2,004,601 on June 11, 1935. The carriage is provided with a pair of guide rods 24 and 25 which slidably support a bearing member 26 for movement toward and from the cutting plane of the knife. To the bearing 26 there is secured a pair of uprights 21 and 28 so that when the bearing member 26 is moved towards and from the cutting plane of the knife, the uprights 21-28 move therewith. The upright 28 has a bearing member 29 embracing the same, and has an extending clamping bar 30 provided with a plate 3] on the underside thereof, having I serrated downwardly extending edges 32 which are adapted to engage the upper side of a substance when the clamp is moved downwardly toward the supporting surface of the carriage I3. In order to move the clamp along the uprights, I provide an operating handle 33 secured by means of screws 34 to the bearing member 29. The bearing member 29 has a laterally extending arm 35 which is U-shaped at the end thereof as indicated at 36, the arms of the U-shaped portion 36-embracing the upright 21 so as to prevent rotational movement of the clamp 30 about the upright 28.

The supporting surface of the carriage is V- shaped and has supporting ribs 31 on the sup:-

porting surface thereof, these ribs having the portions which are remote from the cutting plane of the knife substantially broad and rounded as indicated clearly in Fig. 1, but the portions thereof which lie adjacent the cutting plane of the knife are narrow and peaked so as to go into the substance and prevent slipping of the substance away from the knife during the slicing operation.

In the ordinary use of this invention a substance is placed on the substance support and the clamp 30 is moved downwardly along the uprights 21-48 to bring the serrated portions 32 on the underside of the clamp 30 into engagement with the substance to hold the substance firmly against the carriage l3. The substance may be fed forwardly toward the cutting plane of the knife by manual pressure applied to the handle 33, but it is preferred that the same be yieldingly urged toward the cutting plane by means of a spring 38 surrounding a rod 39 and abutting at one end against the bearing member 26, and the other against downwardly extending skirt 39' on the carriage at the side thereof away from the cutting plane. With this arrangement the spring pressure urges the bearing member, and consequently the clamp 30 toward the cutting plane of the knife, and this in turn urges the substance against the gauge plate 2|, whereby when the carriage is moved along the guides II and I2, a slice will be out therefrom in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, in

which the reference character 4!] indicates the' substance, and 4| the slice being formed.

It is sometimes desirable, however, to cut short substances, such as illustrated in Fig. 2, at 4! and in cutting such substances I prefer to engage the rear end of the substance by a pusher plate which canmove the substance substantially all of the way to the cutting plane of the knife whereby to efficiently slice substantially all of the substance. Such a pusher plate is indicated by the reference character 42 and is provided with a series of prongs 43 which extend toward the cutting plane of the knife, and which are adapted to be imbedded in the rear end of the substance to prevent a lateral shifting movement of the substance during the slicing operation. This pusher plate 42 is adapted to be releasably attached to the clamp 30 and for this purpose I have provided the clamping plate with a pair of lugs 44, which are notched at 45. The notches 45 are adapted to co-operate with the adjacent edge of the clamp 30 which is beveled at 46 to provide a wedging ac- ,tion when the edge of the clamp is forced into the notches 45, as is clear from an inspection of Fig. 3. The lugs 44 are connected together by means of a web 4'! which web also has an upwardly extending lugs 48 adapted to extend upwardly alongside the side of the clamping bar opposite to the side engaged by the lugs 44. The lug 48 has a set-screw 49 threaded therethrough and this set-screw has a tapered point 50 adapted toengage a beveled surface on the upperside of the clamp 36 so that when the screw 49 is tightened by rotating the knurled head 52 thereof, the conical point 513 reacting against the beveled surface 5| draws the lugs 44 toward 45 therein. When it is desired to release the clamp, the thumbscrew 49 can be withdraw from operative position and the clamp can be swung downwardly and te the left to release the pusher plate from its operative relation with respect to the clamp, of if the underside of the clamping bar 30 is not provided with serrated portions such as 32, the clamp may be slid along the clamping bar in a direction toward the operators position. a

The pusher plate is also provided with a handle 53 secured to the web 41 by a screw 54 and to the pusher plate by a screw 55. This operating handle 53 can be used to feed the substance toward the cutting plane of the knife and is also used for holding the pusher plate when it is mounted on, or taken off the clamping bar 38.

With this arrangement the clamp 30 may be used with or without the pusher plate and the pusher plate, as well as the clamp, may be fed manually or by spring pressure. of course, with the arrangement shown in the drawings, the manual means supplements the spring pressure, for the spring pressure is always operative. When the substance is relatively long, the clamp is brought into engagement with the upper surface thereof, and the clamping pressure which results from forcing the clamp against the substance reacts to bind the bearing member 29 on the upright 28 to prevent any substantial upward movement along the upright 28 away from the substance. The clamping pressure, however, is not so great that the substance cannot have free movement along the supporting surface of the carriage. Since the clamping pressure acts directly on the supporting surface of the carriage, which has no movement in a direction toward the cutting plane of the knife, the upper surface of the ribs remote from the cutting plane are relatively broad and rounded so as not to offer much resistance to the movement of the substance, while at the same time permitting the substance to be clamped with sufficient pressure to prevent the same from jumping upwardly away from the surface of the carriage.

The substance is prevented from movement away from the cutting edge of the knife toward the operators position by several different parts of the slicing machine. When the pusher plate is being used, the prongs 43 tend to prevent shifting movement either in a vertical or horizontal direction parallel to the cutting plane of the knife. The ribs on the gauge and guard plate formed between the recesses 20 imbed themselves somewhat in the substance and'act to prevent upward movement thereof, as the substance engages the same in its movement past the slicing knife. The narrow peaked portions of the ribs 3'! adjacent the cutting plane of the knife prevent the underside of thesubstance from slipping away from the cutting edge of the knife during the slicing operation. Also the inclination of the substance-engaging surface of the carriage, which slopes upwardly and towards the operators position tends also to prevent movement away from, the cutting edge of the knife, and acts as an abutment against which the substance is forced by the cutting action of the knife, which knife rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, thus forcing the substance downwardly against the supporting surface of the carriage.

The pusher plate 42 is also provided with hard rubber or steel washers 56 secured to the rear face thereof by screws 51. These Washers are arranged so that they contact between adjacent ribs 31 and limit the downward movement of the pusher plate and clamp. The washers 56 do not bear againstthe surface of thescarriage-with any appreciable amount .of friction, and'there- I do not wish to be limited except 'asihereinafter set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto obtain by Letters -Patent of the United States is:

1. In a slicing machine, the combination with aslicing knife, of a substanceisupport movable relatively to said slicing knife, said substance support comprising a substantially V-shaped trough having both the sides thereof sloping at an appreciableangle to the path of relativereciprocation between said support and knife, a bearingarranged slidably on said substance support elsewhere than over the substance-engaging surface of said support, an upright on said bearing member extending substantially perpendicularly to one side of the'substance-engaging surface of said support, a clamp slidably mounted on said upright for movement toward and from said support and having a clamping surface thereon extending in a general direction 'sub- .stantially parallel with theopposed face of said 1 support, said clamp comprising a bearing slidable on said upright, and an arm extending outwardly'over said support, a pusher plate adapted to be releasably supported on said clamping bar with the face thereof substantially parallel to the cutting plane of said knife, means for moving the-clamping bar toward the cutting plane of said knife, and a releasable connection between said bar and pusher plate, comprising lugs on said pusher plate recessed to receive opposite sides of said clamping bar, andaclamping mem- .berv for holding said lugs in firm operative engagement with said clamping bar.

2. A slicing machine comprising a substance support, 'a clamping bar slidably mounted on said support for movement toward and from the cutting plane of said knife and towardrland from said substance support, said clamping bar having one edge thereof provided with a lug-engag ingportion which is substantially V-shaped in cross section, a pusher plate adapted to be carried by said clamping bar having a pair of lugs thereon with recesses co-mating with said V- shaped portions to locate said pusher plate in redetermined'relation to said clamping bar, the opposite edge of said clamping baralso having a :portion thereof v shaped in cross-section,

spaced substantially mid-way betweensaid V- shaped sections on the opposite edge thereof, an additional lug on said pusher plate having a portion engaging one side "ofthe v-shaped portion on the second: edge of said clamping bar, and a clamping screw threaded through said lug and having the edge thereof'for engaging the other side of said last-mentioned V-shapedportion of said clamping bar whereby'said pusher plate is releasably held in operative position on said clamping-bar.

3. In a slicing machine, the combination with a reciprocating support for-the substance being :sliced. 1a zslicing knife mounted adjacent the apathof movement-lof said support and having a rrecessediface -on that side of said support for receiving a guard plate, a'guard plate; arranged :within said recess with the substance-engaging "the substance during reciprocation of the support .thereby' reducing friction-between the substance :and the guardplate a and preventing considerable larding of the knife and guard plate, a

gauge plate arranged substantially parallel to the'cuttingplane of said-knife in front of the cutting edge thereof andhaving grooves in the face thereof extending substantially parallel to the grooves'in saidguard plate, a pusher plate slidably mounted on said support for movement toward and from the cutting plane of the knife,

prongs on said pusher plate for assisting in preventing lateral movement of said substance, relative'to said support, ribs on said support extending in a general direction toward the cutting plane of said knife for assisting in thefree movement'of the substance toward the cutting plane of theknife'while assisting in preventing movement of the substance away from the cutting edge of the knife, said ridges formed between the grooves on said guard plate and the grooves on saidgauge plate and also assistingin preventing upward movement of the substance away from the substance-supporting surface of said support.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 in which the supporting surface of the substance support is substantially V-shaped in a cross section taken substantially parallel to the cutting plane of the knife, with the'sloping sides of said V-shaped section extending upwardly on both sides of the substance being sliced whereby when the substance tends to move away from the cutting edge of the-knife, itzmust climb upwardly on a sloping surface of the substance support and in so doing the upward movement of the substance is resisted by the ridges formed between the grooves on the gauge plate and guard plate.

5. A slicing machine comprising a substance support, a clamping bar slidably mounted on said support for movement toward andfrom the cut- I ting plane of said knife and toward and from said substance support, said clamping bar having one i edge thereof provided with a lug-engagingpor- =tion-which is substantially V-shaped in cross section,-a pusher plate adapted to be carried by said clamping bar having a pair of lugs thereon with: recesses co-mating with said V-shaped portions to locate said pusher plate in predetermined relation to said clamping bar, the opposite edge of said clamping bar also having a portion thereof V-shaped in cross-section, spaced substantially mid-way between said V-shaped sections on the opposite edge thereof, and an adjustable abutment on said pusher plate for engaging the other side of said last mentioned V shaped portion of said clamping bar to releasably hold said pusherpla-te on said clamping bar.

6. ma slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of a substance support movable past the cutting edge of'said knife having a substance supporting surface sloping upwardly away .;from the cutting edge ofsaid'knife in the direction of reciprocation of said substance support, spaced ribs formed on said supporting surface extending generally toward the cutting plane of the knife, a gauge plate for gauging the thickness of a slice to be cut by said knife and against which the substance is urged while said support is reciprocated toward said knife, said gauge plate being arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the cutting plane of said knife, and a guard plate arranged in a plane substantially parallel with said gauge plate with the operative surface thereof lying substantially in the cutting plane of said knife to engage the end of the substance from which the slice is taken after the same passes the cutting edge of said knife, said guard plate having longitudinally extending spaced ribs thereon extending in a direction substantially parallel to the path of reciprocating movement of said support to resist upward movement of the substance along the inclined surface of said substance support, said spaced ribs also presenting less surface for engagement with the substance during reciprocation of the support thereby reducing friction between the substance and the guard place and preventing considerable larding of the knife and guard plate.

'7. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of a substance support movable past the cutting edge of said knife having a substance supporting surface sloping upwardly away from the cutting edge of said knife in the direction of reciprocation of said substance support, spaced ribs formed on said supporting surface extending generally toward the cutting plane of the knife, a gauge plate for gauging the thickness of a slice to be cut by said knife and against which the substance is urged while said support is reciprocated toward said knife, said gauge plate being arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the cutting plane of said knife, and a guard plate arranged .in a plane substantially parallel with said gauge plate with the operative surface thereof lying substantially in the cutting plane of said knife to engage the end of the substance from which the slice is taken after the same passes the cutting edge of said knife, said guard plate having longitudinally extending ribs thereon extending in a direction substantially parallel to the path of reciprocating movement of said support to resist upward-movement of the substance along the inclined surface of said substance support, said gauge plate also having spaced ribs thereon extending in the same general direction as the ribs on said guard plate and for the same purpose, whereby the substance on said substance support is prevented from riding up the inclined surface on said substance support during the slicing operation, said spaced ribs also presenting less surface for engagement with the substance during reciprocation of the support thereby reducing friction between the substance and the guard plate and preventing considerable larding of the knife and guard plate.

8. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of a substance support movable relative to said knife, spaced ribs on the substance support extending toward the cutting plane of the knife, a gauge plate having the substance engaging surface thereof arranged substantially parallel to the cutting plane of the knife, a clamp support carried by the substance support, a clamp slidable vertically on said clamp support and adapted to clamp substance between said substance support and the clamp, spring ,means for urging the clamp toward the gauge plate and the cutting plane of the knife, said clamp also adapted to be shifted manually toward the cutting plane of said knife, a food pusher having interfitting and locking relationship with said clamp, and friction reducing means carried by the pusher and engageable with the substance support, said friction reducing means being adapted for engagement with the substance support between the spaced ribs thereof.

9. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of a substance support movable relative to said knife, a gauge plate having the substance engaging surface thereof arranged substantially parallel to the cutting plane of the knife, a clamp support carried by the substance support, a clamp slidable vertically on said clamp support and adapted to clamp substance between said substance support and the clamp, spring means for urging the clamp toward the gauge plate and the cutting plane of the knife, said clamp also adapted to be shifted manually toward the cutting plane of said knife, a food pusher having interfitting relationship with said clamp, means in addition to the interfitting means for locking the pusher to the clamp, and an operating handle rigidly connected to the pusher at the top and bottom thereof.

10. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of a substance support movable relative to said knife, a gauge plate having the substance engaging surface thereof arranged substantially parallel to the cutting plane of the knife, a clamp support carried by the substance support, a clamp slidable vertically on said clamp support and adapted to clamp substance between said substance support and the clamp, spring means for, urging the clamp toward the gauge plate and the cutting plane of the knife, said clamp also adapted to be shifted manually toward the cutting plane of said knife, a food pusher having interfitting relationship with said clamp, means in addition to the interfitting means for locking the pusher to the clamp, and an'operating handle rigidly connected to the pusher at the top and bottom thereof, said additional means for locking the pusher to the clamp comprising manually operable means carried by an extension on the handle and engaging a portion of the clamp.

11. In a slicing machine, a slicing knife, a substance support member movable relative to said knife, a gauge plate having the substance engaging surface thereof arranged substantially parallel to the cutting plane of the knife, a substance clamp, said clamp being movable toward the substance support member and toward the knife cutting plane and having longitudinally extending portions of uniform cross section formed therealong, a food pusher having portions shaped to co-operate with the clamp portions, said food pusher portions being smaller than the length of the clamp portions so that they may be engaged with the clamp portions at various positions therealong, and means for locking the clamp and pusher portions together in adjusted position.

12. In a slicing machine, a slicing knife, a substance support movable relative to said knife, spaced ribs on the substance support extending toward the cutting plane of the knife, a gauge plate having the substance engaging surface, thereof arranged substantially parallel to the cutting plane of the knife, a substance clamp, said clamp being movable toward the substance support and toward the knife cutting plane and having longitudinally extending portions of uniform,

cross section formed therealong, a food pusher having portions shaped to cooperate with the clamp portions, friction reducing means carried by the pusher and engageable with the substance 5 support, said food pusher portions being smaller than the length of the clamp portions so that they may be engaged with the clamp portions at various positions therealong whereby the friction reducing means may be engaged with the substance support in predetermined relation to the ribs thereof, and means for locking the clamp and pusher portions together in adjusted position.

JOSEPH FOLK. 

